MTFBMP Chapter 14

💫

 

“This is ridiculous.”

 

As if in answer, another high wave slammed against my window.

 

Crash!

 

The sound was like a slap across my cheek.

 

“No way. Did you take my coin on purpose, from the beginning?”

 

Tilt—

 

This time my stomach tipped to the other side.

 

I walked over to the window and peered out. There was nothing but sea all around.

 

“Are you asking me to come back for it?”

 

In the distance, a dolphin leaped high, circled, and splashed.

 

💫

 

Seeing the human form for the first time in a long time was uncomfortable.

 

The first thing that bothered me was the huge wings on my back. I tried to reduce the size of it, but it was impossible because the other wing was bent and tied down.

 

The unbound side wasn’t much better, either, and the wing that could move was ugly. It was bent and bruised from being tied in the same way.

 

If it had been intact, I would have grabbed it and held it in front of me.

 

“I thought you’d come right away for this.”

 

I rolled the small coin in my hand between my fingers, then picked it up and played with it.

 

It had been a long time since I’d used a human hand with five long fingers instead of a beast’s paws. It made the wait less excruciating.

 

Moving my hands helped in other ways, too. I hadn’t realized that my fingertips were so sensitive.

 

“It felt great. It was soft. It was warm.”

 

I liked everywhere I touched.

 

Most of all, every time I touched that human, my animal instincts sank below the surface, and human greed took over. Reason, cold and sharpened, wanted more.

 

‘I wanted to touch it again.’

 

If I had not been so distracted by its touch, I would not have let it go so easily.

 

After the initial discomfort, I was soon able to skillfully move all of my body, including my hands. I realized that I could now mimic the human form quite well.

 

“Come to think of it, I don’t seem to be changing back.”

 

Before, I wouldn’t have lasted half a day before turning back into an animal.

 

This, too, seemed to be due to the overnight visits of that human.

 

Once the money was in the bank, the interest grew and grew.

 

I waited hopelessly for countless years, and it only took a short time for me to get frustrated.

 

Finally, with a thud, the coin flicked over his thumb and then dropped to the bottom of his hand. It was a common gesture among the men on the ship.

 

I opened my palm and saw the coin glistening with gold.

 

“Hmm.”

 

It wasn’t like the coins the other humans played with. Everything they had was tarnished and dirty. 

 

A coin that shone so brightly, he thought, just like a shining human would carry.

 

A glimpse. The beast turned its head to look at its tattered wings, then back at the coin. 

 

‘I liked how it glowed the same color.’

 

One side of the coin was embossed with a few trees, perhaps symbolizing a forest. And the other side was embossed with the side profile of a human being, who, if you looked closely, wore a crown and held a scepter.

 

“That looks familiar.”

 

‘But I can’t remember.’

 

“When I get back, I’ll ask about this.”

 

When she returned, I assumed she would.

 

“Why did she run away?”

 

It was a question I couldn’t answer alone.

 

“What do you think?”

 

I asked the beings outside the cage in a human voice, and the animals let out their cries. 

 

Still, no answer was to his liking, so with a wave of his hand, he silenced them all.

 

“Do I have to wear clothes after all?”

 

For some reason, I found that she avoided looking at my body, averting my gaze.

 

“Does she not like my body?”

 

Maybe she didn’t want to get close to me because of my body.

 

I’ve never been interested in what other humans like to wear, and I’m puzzled.

 

“Clothes. Do humans need clothes?”

 

I borrowed the eyes of the animals outside to see what the humans above me were wearing.

 

The King of the Beasts could see the world through the eyes of the beasts he had once subjugated. It was an ability that had existed in him since the beginning of his existence as a beast.

 

An ability he had forgotten because he hadn’t used it in a while.

 

The glowing human was with the one who said he was the ship’s master. They seemed to be holding hands, which was strangely unsettling.

 

“You ran away from me.”

 

I was getting a little anxious, and the more I watched, the more unpleasant it became…

 

Puck!

 

With an unnecessary wave of his hand, he summoned an undersea being and stirred up the waves.

 

The two people conversing fell to one side. From there, it was even more unsatisfying, as they were obscured by a fluffy duvet.

 

Flick. With a wave of his hand, the two humans were separated again.

 

After a few more minutes of watching, the shiny human was alone again and stomping her feet. I laughed for the very first time in a while.

 

“You’re not manipulating this ship intending to control it, are you?”

 

“You even thought of talking to me. That’s pretty good.”

 

Humans were always so perceptive and clever.

 

“Are you asking me to come back for it?”

 

Once again, he was generous with his answer.

 

“Now that you know, get down here quickly, before I can’t wait any longer.”

 

A beastly growl cut through the human’s voice.

 

I’m running out of time, trying desperately to hold on.

 

“I want you to come down quickly.”

 

For humans, it’s good for the gods to show up when they have some patience left. I thought so…

 

“Am I mistaken, why is she going up instead of down?”

 

The beast in me screamed that it must be right.

 

“Hmm.”

 

I cleared my throat, swallowing my simmering irritation.

 

“If she’s lost, I suppose I should show her the way. Oh, and maybe a gift?”

 

I snapped my head around and looked in all directions. The creatures that should lead the way nodded to their king.

 

💫

 

In her head, she knew she had to get to the underground immediately.

 

“Hey, new guy! You’ve been resting in your private chambers until now?”

 

Just then, a sailor passed through the hallway and out onto the deck, presumably moving for the early morning shift. His offhanded greeting was a welcome distraction.

 

The sailor gratefully slapped me on the back and led me toward the deck.

 

‘Come to think of it, I might get caught if I head down now!’

 

With that thought, I moved in the opposite direction from underground, which meant I was running as far away from reality as possible.

 

No matter how I thought about it, I was a rat in poison. I couldn’t see a single way out.

 

‘On the other hand, I know I have to visit him at some point, right?’

 

Even though I knew I was acting like a puppy trying to look away as much as possible to save myself from being hunted down later, I couldn’t help but think to myself. 

 

‘It was scary.’

 

If only I had wings. I thought to myself as I stood on the deck and watched the seagulls.

 

‘Sometimes, when I’m having a hard time thinking, it’s best to just stare out at the ocean.’

 

The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, so everything was still off-white.

 

“Hey, buddy, pull the rope a little tighter!”

 

It was also the time when the sailors began to awaken and find their places. The ship at sea was alive and everyone on board was busy. I seemed to be the only one who wasn’t busy.

 

No wonder I didn’t look too happy about it.

 

“Hey! Are you the new kid on board?”

 

“What do you mean, kid?”

 

I’m an adult now, and if you count the number of rice bowls I’ve eaten in my previous life, there’s no one here who beats me.

 

Even if I looked younger because of my cross-dressing, it was not a pleasant nickname.

 

‘What the hell, I’m the new kid on deck.’

 

I had to grit my teeth at the thought.

 

“Look, if there’s anything I can do to help…”

 

“Don’t mess with that kid. He’s the first guest on our ship. If you treat him badly, you’ll be banned!”

 

Before I could finish my sentence, one of the sailors nearby shouted out, ‘Oh, no way!’

 

‘Oh, this isn’t about being accommodating, not at all.’

 

It didn’t take me long to realize what the atmosphere was like among the sailors.

 

“The sea is more fickle than usual today, so don’t disturb us and go inside!”

 

As they said that, I didn’t even think twice about the hand that shoved my shoulder. The force was so strong that I almost fell forward. If I hadn’t been holding on to the railing with one hand, I would have fallen.

 

It was even harder to stay centered on the rough seas. Even experienced sailors were slipping and sliding around.

 

I had no desire to disturb them, but…

 

‘This is going to be pretty rough if we don’t take care of it beforehand.’

 

It wasn’t a smooth start, considering the long voyage ahead. My head, clouded with fear, gradually cleared.

 

The sound of the waves crashing against my back jolted me back to reality. I was just getting myself pumped up.

 

“Oh! Look at that! It’s spectacular!”

 

“Isn’t that a pod of dolphins?”

 

“It’s not just any dolphins. It’s a pod of bottlenose dolphins!”

 

I turned to follow someone’s shout and saw a pod of dolphins swimming side by side near the ship. As soon as I turned my head in their direction, one of the dolphins leaped high into the air.

 

Whoosh!

 

There was a loud splash as the dolphin dived back into the ocean.

 

“Is there a big group of fish around here?” I asked.

 

“A pod of white dolphins on the first day, how lucky are we?”

 

Pure admiration erupted everywhere, but I couldn’t help but enjoy the spectacle for what it was.

 

“I think we made eye contact.”